Filter



March 11, 1941. 1 f A. MATsoN 23349678 FILTER FiledvMarch l5, 1939 ergyi Namo/a .3X5

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patented Mar. l1,- 1941 NH'ED STATES riL'rEn leroy il. Matson, hicago, lll., assigner to Hill- Shaw Company, hicago, lll., a corporation o! llllinois lllpplication March i3, i939, Serial No. 261,457

.il Claims.

type mentioned, fabric filters have heretofore generally been employed although filters of other types have been contemplated and used to some extent. The present invention relates to noniabric lters and an object of the invention is to providean improved` hlter which does notrequire periodic renewal of anypart; one which ill ters the brewed cofleesatisfactorily'; which can be cleansed readily without dlsassembling the parts, and which can be removed from and replaced iniiltering position in the coffee brewer expeditiously. Y

another object oi the invention is to provide an'irnproved filter which is relatively compact and is stable "when in operative position. That is, it has little or no tendency to tilt or to be moved from side to side cr become displaced irom initial position during the brewing operation and hence is not likely to fracture the upper bowl or the funnel oi the upper bowl.

A. further object is to provide a filter oi a construction enabling the same to be retained in liltering position regardless of the position ci the bowl in which it is used, that is, a filter which will remain in position even when the bowl is inverted after use, ior example. This feature oi the invention maires it possible to flush out or cleanse the ilter without removing it from the bowl il desired.

'it is another object ci the invention to provide a filter which can be formed ci non-metallic material such as china, porcelain, or other moldable or plastic material, thereby providing a illter which is not only sanitary but relatively light in weight as compared with metallic or glass hlters and which is inert to the constituents ci" the brewed coffee.

@ther objects oi the invention will be apparent from a consideration ci the following specihcation and accompanying drawing wherein,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a conventional glass coiiee brewer showing a hlter embodying the present improvements in position therein.

Fig. 2 is a broken vertical sectional view through a lter oi' the type shown in liig. l., the two elements ci the filter proper being shown in separated position.

h'ig. 3 is a sectional plan viewtalren on line t--l of Fie. 2.

Fig. i is a vertical sectional view through a (Ui. 2id-162) pair of cooperating filtering elements of the type shown in ligs. 1 and 2, but differing therefrom in that both contacting faces are striated or grooved, milled, or otherwise treated to provide iiltering channels when the llltering elements are 5 in cooperative relation.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line EWE of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through a modified lilter, the parts being shown in spaced relation.y l0

Fig. 'l is a view taken on line 'l-i of Figi. 6.

ln'h'ig. l of the drawing a coffee brewer of conventional form is shown comprising a lower bowl lll provided with a vhandle ll andan upper bowl il having the usual funnel or stem it l5 which, during the brewing operation, extends into the lower bowl.v lil and carries a gasket or stopple lil adjacent the upper end which forms a tight seal with the neel: oi the upper bowl. in the use of coffee brewers ci this type, filters 2@ are employed which generally are located at or adjacent the upper end or" the tunnel ill c1', in other words, at the base of the upper bowl il. The present improved lters are designed for use in that location. 25

The vimproved filter proper illustrated in Figs.

l to 3 inclusive comprises a pair oi members it and lli which, when in operative position, are arranged in super position; that is, member it rests upon the member it as shown in liig. l. 3U, .as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 member lt has a convex lower surface the outer peripheral portion or which is arranged to seat on and iorm a seal with. an annular section indicated at l'l in Fig. l adjacent the upper end ci' the funnel 35 lli. The member it is shown as being convex at its upper surface. Since the ltered liquid must pass through the member it, one or more passages or ports are provided lor that purpose. In the embodiment illustrated tour Such ports ita o are shown which are located inwardly of the peripheral portion of the lower convex side, which contacts or rests on and forms a seal with the base oi the upper bowl concentrically with reference to the tunnel it, as above mentioned.

The upper surface oi the member it is provided at its periphery with a flat lace or annular acne lith. ln this embodiment of the im provements. the upper member l5 is generally similar in shape to member lli; thatlis, ithas an 50 upper convex surface and a lower concave surlace the latter of which is provided with an annular face l5@ corresponding generally to face lila. The face ita differs from -face, i612 however in that it is provided with formations which in 55 cooperation with the lower element i6 provide filtering channels when the members are in the contacting relation shown in Fig. 1. These channels may be formed by suitably striating, milling, furrowing. or grooving the facey Ia which provides spacing ribs Ib with intermediate filtering channels Ilic. as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The formations referred to may extend radially of the member I5 if desired, although in the form illustrated they are slightly curved and are non-radial, whereby the length of the ltering channels from end to end is somewhat increased. The cross sectional area of the filtering channels I5c is such that the coffee particles and particularly the larger coffee particles employed in brewing the coffee will be prevented from passing through the channels from the upper bowl into the interior of the filter and thence through the ports ISa into the funnel i3 and thence into the lower bowl. While the formations which provide the spacing ribs or striations and thus the intermediate filtering channels are shown in Figs. 1 to 3 as being formed in the annular face of the upper member I5, they could be formed as well in the face I6b of the member I6. In fact, both such faces may be provided with such formations as shown in Fig. 4 wherein the illustrated invention is identical with that shown in Figs. l to 3 with the exception that the lower member I6 is provided with filter-channel forming formations IGc in the annular face I6b which contacts with the annular face I5a of the upper member I5 when the said members are in operative relation.

Where both filter members are provided with filter channel formations I5b and Ic they are arranged generally in intersecting relation when the filter members are assembled so as to avoid intermeshing relation of the formations and consequent closure of the respective filter channels.

Suitable means are provided for securing the members I5 and I6 together during the filtering operations, said means preferably being such that the members maybe separated sufficiently for the purpose of cleansing the interiors thereof without actually disassembling the filtering structure. Such attaching means may comprise a wire stem I3 which extends through a central aperture I9 in member I6 and through a close fitting aperture 20 in member I5, the upper end of the stem Il being headed as at 2I to prevent the member I5 from displacement therefrom. The member I8 may be attached thereto or be formed integrally with a spring 22 which at its lower end terminates in a hook 23. To the lower end may be attached two or more links 22a or the like of a length enabling the same to b e grasped at the lower end of the funnel for convenience in distending spring 22 and drawing the hook 23 into engagement with the lower end of the funnel I3 whereby the tension of the spring draws the member I5 into mating contact with the member I6 and holds both members in the filtering position shown in Fig 1. With the filter in the position shown in Fig. 1 water is placed in the lower bowl and ground coffee in the upper bowl. Heat is applied to the lower bowl and by the pressure developed in the lower bowl the water is caused to ascend the funnel I3, pass through the ports I6a and thence outwardly horizontally through the filtering channels I5c. When suiiicient water has left the lower bowl to uncover the lower end of the funnel, it is the usual practice to turn off the heat or to remove the brewer from the source of heat, whereupon cooling of the vapor in the lower bowl produces a vacuum effect which draws the coffee brew down into the lower bowl. The coarser coffee grounds generally settle first and will accumulate around the filter in the lower end of the upper bowl. Hence the filtering passages I5c are at least small enough in cross sectional area to prevent the passage of the coarser grains of coffee through the filter. 'I'he brew in passing through the filter thus is filtered not only by reason of the relatively small fllter channels through which the liquid must pass, but further by reason of the fact that the grounds first to settle and bank up around the outer ends of the filtering channel assist in the filtering operation and restrain the nner coffee particles, which are last to reach the bottom of the bowl, from passing through the filter into the lower bowl. By this arrangement a clear coffee brew in the lower bowl is provided.

The members I5 and I6 may be formed of metal if desired, in which instance the filtering channels I5c and IBc may be formed by a milling or like operation. However, the members I5 and I6O preferably are formed of a moldable material such as china or porcelain, in which instance the filtering channels may be formed by formations provided in the molds. Other suitable material may, of course, be employed.

The forms of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 differ from the modifications above described in that neither of the filter members I5', IB' is provided with filter channel formations. In lieu of the formations formed on the face of one or both of the members as above described, a thin disc 24 may be interposed between the members I5', I6', which is substantially of the diameter of the filter members. The disc 24 is provided with filter channels 25 in the upper and lower surfaces thereof. 'Ihe piane annular faces 26 and 21 of the members I5', i6' are arranged to contact respectively with the upper and lower periphery of the disc 24 whereby there are provided filtering channels which enable the liquid to flow inwardly between the members I5', I6' and downwardly through the funnel by means of ports 28 in the member I6 inthe same manner as described above. The disc 24 is provided with vertical apertures 29 to permit the downward ow vof filtered liquid which passes between the disc 24 and the upper member I5'. 'I'he filtering channels 25 of the disc 24 are shown. likewise as being nonradial and may be formed in the metal disc by any suitable means on one or both sides thereof, as will be understood,

The disc 24 is illustrated as being of substantial thickness, but this thickness is somewhat exaggerated since in actual practice it need be of only relatively thin material such as stainless steel, for example.

It will be observed that the two filter members are confined on the stem I8 and that when the hook 23 has been released from engagement with the lower end of the funnel I3 the entire filter can be removed readily from the upper bowl. The members I5 and I6 can then be separated by moving the lower member along the stem I8 and any coffee ground particles that may be lodged in the filtering channels can readily be flushed out. If desired, the filter can be cleansed effectually without actually removing it from the upper bowl. For example, after a brewing operationvthe loose grounds in the upper bowl can be rinsed out by holding the same under a faucet if desired, and the bowl then inverted to permit water to run down the funnel through the ports in the lower member I6 and thence out through the' filter.

titi

ing channels to remove any lodged particles therein. It is, thus, not necessary in all instances to remove the filter device from the bowl for the purpose of cleansing.

'I'he cooperating filter members I5 and I6, as will be noted, seat in the lower portion of the upper bowl and thus do not render the same unstable nor is the filter readily dislodged from the proper iiltering position illustrated in the drawing, either accidentally when placing the ground coiee in the upper bowl or by the action of the hot water as it iiows upwardly through the stem during the iiltering operation.

Other advantages of the improvements will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have shown and described said embodiments of .my improvements for the purpose of illustration, I do not wish to be restricted specically thereto since it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the particular embodiments shown without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l claim:

i. A iilter comprising a pair of super-posed members provided with contacting faces formed to provides. number of ltering channels intermediate said faces and extending inwardly from the periphery of the members, one or more fluid ports extending through the lower of said members from top 'to bottom thereof and communieating with said iiltering passages, and means engaging .the upper member and passing slidably through the lower member for pressing the latter against a wall of a vessel and for securing said members in said contacting relation.

il. A hlter for use in an upper bowl of a glass codec brewer provided with a funnel comprising a pair of superposed nlter members having mutually contactable faces formed :to provide a plurality of filtering passages therebetween, the lower of said members having one or more outlets tor discharging fluid from said passages into said tunnel and resilient means arranged for engagement with the lower end of the funnel for retaining said filter members in contacting relation over the upper end of the funnel with said outlets in communication with the funnel and comprising a stem extending loosely through the lower oi' said members and engem the upperv one of said areas being provided with filtering channels extending from the outer to the inner periphery thereof. one or more fluid outlet ports in the lower member disposed inwardly of ythe annular area of said member, said members being formed to provide an internal chamber providing communication between said filtering passages and said outlet ports, andaxially disposed means secured to .the upper of said members and extending through the lower member slidably for releasably securing said members to a vessel in cooperative filtering relation therein, and aifording relative sliding movement of said members along said means when latter is released from engagement with the vessel.

4. A lter for use in .the upper bowl of e vacuum coffee brewer comprising a pair of superposed filtering elements having annular contacting surfaces one of which is provided with filtering channels open at the outer ends for egress of uid from the upper bowl. said lower element having its lower surface shaped to seat over the upper end of the funnel of the upper bowl in contact with .the portion of the bowl wall surrounding the upper end of the funnel to prevent the ilow of i'iuid beneath said element into said funnel, said iower member being provided with one or Vmore iiuid ports therethrough adapted to register with the funnel and communicating on the interior of the hlter with said channels whereby uuid passing through said channels can now into said pont or posts and into said funnel, said upper iiltering element constituting a closure of the lower element to preclude :the iiow of iiuid from the bowl into the ports of the lower element except through said filtering channels. and a member passing slide-bly through said lower element and engaging said upper element and provided with 4latching means for attachment to said funnel for holding said upper element in contacting relation with said lower element and retaining the latter element in said position over said funnel in contact with said wall of the bowl during .the nltering operation.

o. A nlter for a coifee brewer consisting of two coacting superposed filtering elements having coacting surfaces defining filtering channels when said surfaces are in contact and a stem upon which said members are mounted for relative silding movement and constituting means for drawing said co-acting surfaces into such contact and for drawing the lower of said elements into firm contact with the wall of the codec brewer and being provided with means at the lower end for engaging a pontion of the brewer for retaining said iiltering elements in said iiltering relation.

\- LEROY A. MATBON. n 

